There's a moment, at the beginning, where Ephemera isn't worried. It's not the first bind he's been in - not by a long shot - and so long as he's alive and mobile, he can fight. And if he can fight, he can survive. Same goes for whoever is standing next to him. And if they can't escape, then they'll go down hard and make their enemies pay for every second.

Only Drake doesn't fight. And no matter how hard Ephemera tries, he can't land a blow. None of the people even see him.

Just Drake.

Nothing is said. And in the end it's almost peaceful.

Ephemera sucks in a harsh breath. "No."

It doesn't end like this. It can't.

And the techs turn to him.

Ephemera shivers all over. "I'm going to kill all of you."

They laugh. Don't believe him.

They don't laugh when he delivers on the promise. He does it quick. Goes back to Drake with blood on his hands and undoes the restraints because somehow, this time he can touch things. He can touch Drake's face, put two fingers on his pulse and be unable to calculate the results. Ephemera twitches. He's not in armor. It's just him and Drake is so very still.

"Stay," Ephemera pleads. "Please, just hold on."